Forgive me for being cynical, but now we know why President Bush
gave a big speech about going to Mars (in the out years, of course).
As per CNN, it has just been announced that the Hubble Space Telescope
will not be serviced again, meaning that it will go out of service in
2007 or possibly 2008. NASA stated that with the plan to shut down
shuttle operations, there is "just not room" for a mission to service
Hubble, which would allow it to continue service (and possibly receive
upgrades) for several more years. NASA states that at WH direction the
'limited' remaining shuttle flights will be prioritized for ISS and
meeting "international commitments".
This would appear to mean they are serious about the shuttle being
shut down in 2010. With a firm shut-down date, remaining launches are
becoming scarce items and fingers are crossed that the shuttle will fly
successfully again as scheduled. Any delays now in returning the shuttle
to service will have major compounding effects (unless the shut down date
were slipped back).
Clearly it is a tight situation. When a project as public and
lauded (by commoners and scientists)as Hubble is sent down the tubes...
There is a newer telescope (the "Webb" telescope) tentatively scheduled to
be launched in 2011, but that will leave several years at best gap in
that type of outer space astronomy. I'm not certain how firm or how far
along the "Webb" is either.
Yes, there is a continuing promise of great projects -- in the out
years. But a bird in the hand... It really seems to me that the great
Mars push is not so much a serious plan/effort as it was an attempt to
forestall criticism (deserved or not) for pulling the plug on the shuttle and
letting major ongoing projects like Hubble go down in the process.

regards,
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